Skagway, Alaska
Description
Skagway was the gateway to the gold fields for the thousands who flocked to Alaska and the Yukon with the hope of striking it rich. Skagway may have boasted the shortest route to the Klondike, but it wasn't the easiest.
Over 100 years ago, the White Pass route through the Coast Mountains and the shorter but steeper Chilkoot Trail were used by countless stampeders. Many a would-be miner perished on the treacherous Chilkoot Trail.
The gold rush was a boon and by 1898, Skagway was Alaska's largest town with a population of about 20,000. Hotels, saloons, dance halls and gambling houses prospered. But when the gold yield dwindled in 1900, so did the population as miners quickly shifted to new finds in Nome.
Today, Skagway has less than 1,000 residents. It still retains the flavor of the gold rush era.
Points of Interest
- White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad
- Outdoor Adventures
- Klondike Summit
- Gold Rush History
- Yukon (Canada)
- Haines
- Red Onion Saloon
- Dog Sledding
More about Skagway, Alaska Points of Interest
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White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad -
The "Scenic Railway of the World" links Skagway with Yukon, Canada. A 41-mile roundtrip offers an unforgettable journey to the summit of the White Pass at nearly 3,000 feet in elevation.
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Outdoor Adventures -
Enjoy what is truly an outdoorsman's paradise, with activities you won't find anywhere else. Go for a ride on a dog sled, horseback riding, hiking, river rafting, flightseeing, ziplining and more.
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Klondike Summit -
The Klondike Summit, also called the White Pass Summit rises 3,292 feet above sea level along the Klondike Highway. The journey, running parallel to the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, offers breathtaking views of waterfalls, glaciers, scenic vistas and glimpses of the original Brackett Wagon Road and Tormented Valley.
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Gold Rush History -
Relive the color and history of the Yukon Gold Rush. Tour the camps, pan for gold or meet a few costumed characters who'll show you what life was like during the boom-town days in the 1800s.
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Yukon (Canada) -
Yukon is a wilderness playground with an extensive network of waterways. On the scenic 65-mile drive from Skagway, the lush coastal landscape gives way to rugged wilderness. Its capital, Whitehorse, is the center for the Yukon's mining and forestry industries.
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Haines -
Pristine beauty and an abundance of wildlife define Haines. Just 14 miles from Skagway by water, the town is renowned for huge convocations of bald eagles and one of the planet's longest fjords.
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Red Onion Saloon -
During the Klondike Gold Rush, the Red Onion Saloon was Skagway's most exclusive bordello. Now this colorful establishment is a bar/restaurant and a National Historic Building.
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Dog Sledding -
Meet professional mushers and their amazing canine companions in an introduction to Alaska's state sport. Take a flight to a glacier to experience flying over the snow, or visit the summertime training grounds for a ride in a wheeled sled.
Easy Skagway: City, Klondike Highway & The Days of '98 Show
Easy Activity
From $79.95
Easy Skagway: City, Klondike Highway & The Days of '98 Show (Wheelchair Accessible)
From $79.95
Klondike Summit,Liarsville Experience & Gold Panning
Shopping Opportunities, Easy Activity
From $104.95
Klondike Summit, Suspension Bridge & Salmon Bake
Shopping Opportunities, Easy Activity, Includes meal
From $129.95
Rise & Shine at the Red Onion Saloon & Historical City Tour
Shopping Opportunities, Easy Activity, Includes snack
From $94.95
To the Klondike Summit
Easy Activity
From $49.95
Local Connections: Skagway Street Car City Tour with Storyteller
Shopping Opportunities, Easy Activity
From $49.95
Experience the Yukon & Suspension Bridge
Shopping Opportunities, Easy Activity, Includes meal
From $179.95
Yukon Expedition & White Pass Scenic Railway
Shopping Opportunities, Easy Activity, Includes meal
From $254.95
White Pass Scenic Railway
Easy Activity
From $154.95
White Pass Scenic Railway (Wheelchair Accessible)
From $154.95
White Pass Scenic Railway - Luxury Class
Easy Activity, Includes snack
From $499.95
White Pass Steam Train to Bennett Lake
Moderate Activity, Includes snack
From $539.95
Local Connections: White Pass Rail Bennett Lake & Yukon Adventure Created by Train Historian
Easy Activity, Includes meal
From $384.95
White Pass Rail & Klondike Highway - Multilingual
Easy Activity
From $209.95
Best of Skagway: Rail, Salmon Bake & Saloon
Shopping Opportunities, Easy Activity, Includes meal
From $299.95
Rail, Summit & Suspension Bridge with Brunch
Shopping Opportunities, Easy Activity, Includes meal
From $239.95
White Pass Rail, Summit, Gold Panning & BBQ Lunch
Shopping Opportunities, Easy Activity, Includes meal
From $254.95
Sip & Summit: White Pass Scenic Rail & Skagway Brewing Company
Easy Activity, Includes snack
From $269.95
Local Connections: Hands-On Kitchen Science with Alaskan Chef
Easy Activity, Includes snack
From $109.95
Legends & Lies: Gold Rush Saloon Experience & City Tour
Easy Activity, Includes meal
From $129.95
Skagway in Focus Photography Tour
Moderate Activity
From $119.95
Ultimate Gold Panning, Sled Dogs & Scenic Railway - a Discovery Exclusive
Shopping Opportunities, Easy Activity, Includes snack
From $269.95
Gold Fever Experience: Gold Panning & Alaska Sled Dogs
Shopping Opportunities, Easy Activity
From $114.95
Gold Fever Experience: Gold Panning & Alaska Sled Dogs (Wheelchair Accessible)
From $114.95
Kroschel Wildlife Refuge - an Animal Planet Exclusive
Strenuous Activity, Includes snack
From $294.95
Local Connections: Ghosts & Goodtime Girls Walking Tour Created by Madam Jan
Shopping Opportunities, Easy Activity
From $59.95
Adventure Park & Ziplines
Strenuous Activity, Includes snack
From $149.95
Grizzly Falls Ziplining Expedition
Strenuous Activity
From $229.95
Ultimate Musher's Camp Experience: Dog Sled Ride, Gold Panning & S'mores
Shopping Opportunities, Easy Activity, Includes snack
From $269.95
Alaska Nature & Wildlife Expedition
Easy Activity, Includes meal
From $229.95
Bear & Eagle Quest
Easy Activity, Includes meal
From $249.95
Musher's Camp & Sled Dog Experience
Shopping Opportunities, Easy Activity
From $199.95
Musher's Camp & S'more Roasting Adventure
Easy Activity, Includes snack
From $149.95
Klondike Summit To Sea Bicycle Tour
Strenuous Activity
From $129.95
Rainforest Bicycle Tour
Strenuous Activity
From $119.95
Klondike Rock Climbing & Rappelling
Strenuous Activity, Includes snack
From $119.95
Wilderness UTV Adventure
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
From $279.95
Haines Wilderness Odyssey by Jet Boat
Easy Activity, Includes meal
From $289.95
Ocean Raft Adventure
Moderate Activity
From $159.95
Chilkoot Trail Hike & Float Adventure - a Discovery Exclusive
Strenuous Activity, Includes snack
From $164.95
Haines Eagle Preserve Rafting & Wildlife Quest
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
From $284.95
Glacier Point Wilderness Safari
Moderate Activity, Includes meal
From $299.95
Klondike Summit Lake Canoe
Moderate Activity, Includes snack
From $239.95
Chilkoot Lake Kayak Experience
Strenuous Activity, Includes meal
From $234.95
Glacier Discovery by Helicopter
Moderate Activity
From $429.95
Dog Sledding & Glacier Helicopter Flightseeing
Moderate Activity
From $849.95